When summer ends, students deal with homework, balance activities and deal with an altered sleep schedule. Although many suffer every year, the boys’ basketball team seems to face more difficulties than typical students.

While the season offically begins with the annual Kerman tournament on Nov. 29, coach Chris Schultz has watched his team prepare far earlier than in the past. Coach Schultz has scheduling practices at 5:30- 6:45 A.M., twice a week to condition for since school started.

Former head coach at FC, Schultz won two league championships and was two-time coach of the year. For two years he was a coach at Westmont University in Santa Barbara.

“The purpose of the practices are three-fold,” Schultz said. “To help us be in the best shape we can, to develop habits that will help us outwork our opponents, and to be mentally prepared for the season.”

Since the practices are before school, many of the players require self-motivation.

“We have to run a lot in the mornings,” Michael Raymer, ’09, said, “but once the season starts it will have been worth it because we will be able to outrun everyone on the opposing team.”

Conditioning began at the start of the school year. Most players remain focused on the upcoming season while halfway through their 10-week session of morning practices.

“Its really hard having to get started that early in the morning,” Joey Logan, ’07, said, “but I still love the sport of basketball and I am looking forward to the start of the season.”

In addition to morning practices, the boys practice every day after school. Track coach Ericlee Gilmore runs practice Monday and Wednesday as the boys run and lift weights from 2:15-4 P.M. while Tuesday and Thursdays are spent with coach Schultz developing their basketball skills. And if that is not enough, every Friday, Gilmore takes the players to Woodward Park to run hills.

“I?m seeing progress in the boys and it’s encouraging,” Schultz said. “We?re using the fall sessions to build a foundation that will serve us well once the regular season starts.”

The players will continue conditioning and practice schedule for the next month before a regular practice schedule kicks in.